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Advice For First Time Home Buyers

Buying a home for the first time can often be an intimidating ordeal. Below is an excerpt from an article from Realty Times regarding the Dos and Don’ts of first time home buying. I strongly agree with two of the Dos: getting pre-approved for a loan & finding a dream team of professionals. Getting pre-approved will allow your interest to be taken more seriously and you will get much better response from all parties involved. It will also help give you a better idea of what price-ranges you should be looking at. Working with a quality real estate professional will also make your first home purchase much smoother. It is important to have somebody representing your interests in the transaction to ensure that you are getting the best deal possible. SI Real Estate has done an excellent job of representing first time buyers in the Tampa Bay area. We know the market inside and out which allows us to make sure that our clients are getting the right property at the right price. I urge you t...

Tampa Bay: Real Estate for Everyone

As anyone here at SI can tell you, Tampa Bay has some of the best Real Estate properties you are likely to find anywhere. However, many people seem to overlook Tampa in favor of its famous cousin slightly to the east. Not this time though, in a recent article written for Turks.us World News, Vanessa Arellano Doctor explains exactly why the Tampa Bay area is such a wonderful place to live. Enjoy! “For those who are familiar with the communities around Tampa Bay, they would understand just how dynamic and culturally infused its real estate market truly is. When it comes to different lifestyles, the Tampa area has it, with notable areas like Hyde Park, Downtown, Channelside, New Tampa, Brandon, and Westshore, it' quite easy to locate a place that compliments an individual's unique style and personality. According to long-time observers, one of the joys of living here is that local culture and themes are best exemplified in the condominiums that are home to the area’s residents. De...

Looking Back at Snow Bird Season

This past winter proved once again that Florida is still a hot spot for those seeking relief from the cold. Here as SI Real Estate, inquiries were coming in left and right for furnished and seasonal vacation rentals in Tampa and St. Petersburg. Rentals in places like Coquina Key in St. Petersburg, The Moorings in Tarpon Springs, as many others were in high demand and were snatched up early in the snow bird season. All season long we were receiving phone calls from individuals from the Northern US, Canada, Europe, and even Russia. With so many attractions in the Tampa Bay area it is no wonder that so many people want to vacation in Florida. Tampa and St. Petersburg are renowned for their world class beaches, fishing, golf, boating, and dining. And with the Port of Tampa so close, vacationers can easily plan on fitting a relaxing cruise into their schedule. Tampa's central location also puts all the activities of Orlando right at your fingertips. With legendary theme parks such as ...

Foreign Investors Taking Advantage of Discounted Dollar

Greetings! Well it finally happened! The US dollar has finally slipped to a record low against the euro ($1.54/1€), breaking the $1.50 barrier that seems to have an emotional, as well as an economic, impact on the US. The US dollar is doing even worse against the British pound, which is up to about $2.00/1₤. The surge in foreign investment in the US real estate market shows how this currency change has not gone unnoticed abroad. Foreign investment in real estate has been flowing in from all over the globe, including a great deal from Candan, Europe, and Russia & South America. Foreign investors are seeing their buying power increase in the US and have started to capitalize. And when it comes to purchasing real estate in the US there is no place like Florida. The Sunshine State has attracted overseas real estate buyers who are looking for both investment properties, as well as buyers who want to purchase vacation homes for their own enjoyment, taking advantage of reduced prices and...

Tampa Condos Are Great Resource For Buyers and Tenants

Greetings! If you are familiar with Tampa Bay, you understand just how dynamic and culturally infused its real estate market really is. When it comes to different lifestyles, you name it…Tampa has it! With areas such as Hyde Park, Downtown, Channelside, New Tampa, Brandon, and Westshore, it is easy to find a place that compliments your unique style and personality. One of the joys of living in these areas is that the local culture and themes are captured in the condominiums that are home to the area’s residents. Whether it is the sleek and stylish design of Grand Central Condominiums of Downtown Tampa, the European inspired charm of Cordoba Beach Park, or the tropical tranquility of Courtney Palms, there is a place to call home for anyone looking to live the Florida lifestyle in Tampa Bay. Whether you are looking for a condo home for yourself, or looking to purchase an investment property, the Tampa condo market is a great place to purchase or rent. SI Real Estate has in-depth knowledg...

Tampa Market Ripe for Foriegn Real Estate Investment

Whether you realize it or not, globalization is effecting nearly every aspect of our lives. The real estate market is no exception. With international boundaries becoming less and less constraining, the market that investors can participate in has become a great deal larger. With the recent decline in the value of the dollar, the US real estate market has become more attractive than ever for foreign investment. Here at SI Real Estate in Tampa, Florida, we have noticed a significant increase in the amount of interest from over-seas investors. The real estate experts here at SI Real Estate have the ability to work with domestic and foreign investors alike to facilitate solid investment property transactions that can lead to a more diversified and more profitable investment portfolio. The Tampa Bay area is filled with wonderful real estate investment opportunities, and nobody knows the Tampa Bay real estate market better than SI Real Estate! This article is just one example of how Europea...

Six Signs It's Time For Home Buyers To Buy

Greetings! Here is a great article we came across written by Blanche Evans. We are passing it along to you because she did such a great job of stating important principles of real estate in very basic terms. This is knowledge we can all use to make smart home-buying decisions. Enjoy! Best Wishes, The Team at SI Real Estate Six Signs It's Time For Home Buyers To Buy If you're waiting for signs of a housing bottom, join the club. Nobody blows a whistle and say, "It's time to buy!" That's why market timing is an art, not a science, but you can improve your odds of buying wisely. First, stop paying attention to the national media. Fear has sidelined buyers even in good markets, and that's exactly when you need to take advantage -- before other buyers wise up. Second, be ready to pounce when you see the home you want. The time is right to buy when you see these signs in your marketplace: 1. Inventories start to decline. That means that the best buys are leavin...